User Reviews

Well, the idea is definitely a little bit out-there, a bunch of personified firearms going to school on how to be better firearms, but overall it's pretty well done and very entertaining. As a firearm nut myself, I found it very relieving that they actually got all of the history and specs right on all of the firearms featured in the show, and actually learned a thing or two about a couple of guns ...

Well, the idea is definitely a little bit out-there, a bunch of personified firearms going to school on how to be better firearms, but overall it's pretty well done and very entertaining. As a firearm nut myself, I found it very relieving that they actually got all of the history and specs right on all of the firearms featured in the show, and actually learned a thing or two about a couple of guns I had little previous knowledge of.

The characters are very well written and are interesting because their personalities are based off of the firearms that they represent, for example, the M16A4 has a lot of energy in short burst, because the M16 only has a burst fire mode. Another good example is the girl that represents the Galil AR, because the Galil is essentially a hybrid of, or improvement on, the AK-47, the Galil character is shown as a hybrid of a human and some kind of canine/vulpine.

This show has pretty good action sequences too. The characters in the show often have war games where they can show off their skills as firearms, and these scenes are very well animated and keep the blood pumping, so fans of action shows might want to check this out.

Because there haven't been many episodes, there doesn't appear to be a large over-arching plot or main villain yet, but that's okay because so far I don't think this show would need one.

This anime is a very interesting concept but I feel as if there is alot lacking in story line and character development. I have watched all available episodes to date (up to episode 5) and The characters at least the human ones are lacking in background. The characters as far as the guns (girls) go isn't to bad but I don't see any clear future for the one human character of the story. We still ...

This anime is a very interesting concept but I feel as if there is alot lacking in story line and character development. I have watched all available episodes to date (up to episode 5) and The characters at least the human ones are lacking in background. The characters as far as the guns (girls) go isn't to bad but I don't see any clear future for the one human character of the story. We still know nothing about him.

All of this however is just what I would like to see. If your looking for a fun anime to watch with some good humor and a bit of action then you might like this! overall I give it a 4/5 because I have found my self enjoying the series so far enough that I think I will be watching the full thing and keeping up with it every week.

I'll touch on the good things in this series first. The music is about average in the anime world, and the animation is pretty solid. The writers (can a show without a story even have writers?) have obviously done their homework on the various weapons featured here, and as an extreme gun nut myself, that's refreshing. In the couple of episodes I watched, I didn't feel the need to correct them ...

I'll touch on the good things in this series first. The music is about average in the anime world, and the animation is pretty solid. The writers (can a show without a story even have writers?) have obviously done their homework on the various weapons featured here, and as an extreme gun nut myself, that's refreshing. In the couple of episodes I watched, I didn't feel the need to correct them on anything; coming from me, that's a pretty good testament to their research ability.

Unfortunately, the entire premise of the show very nearly made me have a brain aneurysm. Why is this in a school setting? Why is it trying to be a slice-of-life anime and still include these sudden, ridiculous bursts of surrealism? Why isn't there a compelling story arc? Forgetting compelling for a moment, why isn't there a story at all? And why, in the name of all I hold holy and dear, have they turned these guns into high school anime girls? Why is this a thing? Why are there MULTIPLE shows doing this right now? Why, why, why?

There were seriously a dozen other ways they could have done this, and it would have been vastly improved. Perhaps they could have each character using a favored weapon, with their personalities reflecting that choice. Perhaps they could have been doing this as part of a mercenary training program or something, that way they could squeeze their school life type stuff in with it, and have an excuse to go into a great deal of detail on the weapons themselves. Perhaps this mercenary training program would have its own set of enemies and challenges to overcome, and the show could follow the trainees until they graduated. It would achieve very nearly the same thing, and it wouldn't give me a headache in the process.

Japan has been known for pulling off some unusual stunts in their media and markets as a whole. A good bunch have been incredibly successful, while others... not so much. Upotte!!, on the other hand, takes the cake in this world of unusual things, not because of its premise, but its execution.

So the premise can easily be summed up in ten words: "Upotte!! is a slice of life ...

Japan has been known for pulling off some unusual stunts in their media and markets as a whole. A good bunch have been incredibly successful, while others... not so much. Upotte!!, on the other hand, takes the cake in this world of unusual things, not because of its premise, but its execution.

So the premise can easily be summed up in ten words: "Upotte!! is a slice of life edutainment about anthropomorphic guns. Also, fanservice." We follow the antics of the assault rifles (portrayed as middle school girls) FNC, M16A4, SG 550, and L85A1; nicknamed Funco, 16 (Ichiroku), Sig (Shigu), and L (Eru); as they... er... try to become perfect shots... yeah. Aside from that, there is really not much of a story, and it shows in more ways than one. Considering that the character design is by the guy who did Ladies Versus Butlers, expect more detail to be put into fanservice in everyone's designs.

Throughout the series, both manga and anime, you find little tidbits of firearm trivia, whether told explicitly, or through the physical and personality designs of the characters. Such include M16's on-and-off energy, a reference to the gun's burst-fire availability; and L85's bust size, a nod towards the rifles rather heavy weight. Heck, the title itself is a pun in being the Japanese word for "gun" written in reverse order. It can provide amusement for those knowledgeable or seeking knowledge in the world of firearms, and it is surprisingly not a bad start at learning firearm knowledge and handling (still nothing compare to personal experience. My wrist......)

For the most part, Upotte!! is a polarizing, iffy anime. Viewers that attracted by moe are likely to be put off by the guns. And vice versa with the gun nuts. If you can at least tolerate the two genres, then you're free to give this anime a try.

What do you get when you take a concept like Hetalia and turn it into guns instead of countries and put them in school? You get the silly show known as, Upotte!!

In terms of design, the idea of the show is a little out there, but something I can totally get behind. The characters are true to the weapons that they are based off and the show employs both action and ...

This the Full Review:

What do you get when you take a concept like Hetalia and turn it into guns instead of countries and put them in school? You get the silly show known as, Upotte!!

In terms of design, the idea of the show is a little out there, but something I can totally get behind. The characters are true to the weapons that they are based off and the show employs both action and school work with it. The school stuff can be endearing but the action is where the show really shines (after all it is gun based characters).

But, the main point that makes this show so good is the learning part. That is right this show TEACHES you things! WOAH! I KNOW SCARY, CALM DOWN! You learn about firearms from the show, in fact you learn a lot pretty much each episode. These are characters based off guns after all, and there are even SMGs in Elementary, Battle Rifles in High School and our main Assault Rifles in Middle School.

The music for the OP and ED are somewhat fitting, but the music shines best in the actual show where it fits nicely. The animation is alright, especially the animation of the guns... which is its finest.

There are a few problems though. The School Life stuff is boring sometimes, should just stick to teaching you gun knowledge while employing comedy and action, not drama. There is also a certain scene (you'll know it when you see it) where the content gets unbelievably sexual. There is also my main gripe with shows like this... lack of male characters. If they had male gun characters to help balance out some hormones, that would be nice...

Overall, Upotte teaches you gun knowledge and has crazy antics to boot. I found it to be an enjoyable (if sadly short being a 10 episode series) experience and I got something to take with me. It also helped to spawn a fanbase of gun fans and anime fans that came together to discuss it and they are just a great group of fans. It may not be perfect (Especially with the solid lead up, but not quite solid ending to the season) but I hold hope for a second season.

So please, give this show a chance, it is better than a lot of the others during the season's run and it also teaches you something you can take with you. Watch it! Believe it! (Whoops inserted an unneeded reference in there...)

This anime is basically educational, unless you try the accounts of naked school girls learning something.
You will enjoy every minute with each episode. This has action, comedy, drama and everything inbetween that we expect in this type of anime.

A strange idea executed perfectly, I little funny at times, a little weird at others. Overall very well done, You didn't really get deep back-stories on any of the characters, but you do get decent development of them. By the end of the series you end up realizing that you've gotten to know the main characters fairly well.

I was worried at first that the "boobs-n-panties" high school girls were a bit cheap-shot. Add in the assault rifles and the only thing missing is glorified intraveinous drug use. I stayed with a couple episodes, thinking that the off-beat depiction of perky underage girls and deadly weapons might indicate other off-the-wall observations. What developed was an excuse to enter into xenophobic ...

I was worried at first that the "boobs-n-panties" high school girls were a bit cheap-shot. Add in the assault rifles and the only thing missing is glorified intraveinous drug use. I stayed with a couple episodes, thinking that the off-beat depiction of perky underage girls and deadly weapons might indicate other off-the-wall observations. What developed was an excuse to enter into xenophobic stereotyping of the people of each country. Poor English craftsmanship but plucky determination...dispassionate Swiss mechanical refinements... then there is the American. This is just terrible.

Its almost a cross between Soul Eater and Hetalia. As a gun owner and firearms enthusiast i found their facts and references to be up to 99% accurate with only a few tiny misquotes; but still very great research.

I personally don't care much for subbed anime's but i put that aside for this because i absolutely love it. Its purely entertaining, If you are looking for a deep seated story with ...

Its almost a cross between Soul Eater and Hetalia. As a gun owner and firearms enthusiast i found their facts and references to be up to 99% accurate with only a few tiny misquotes; but still very great research.

I personally don't care much for subbed anime's but i put that aside for this because i absolutely love it. Its purely entertaining, If you are looking for a deep seated story with plot twists and drama; that's not here. If you like guns, ang girls, and a fun easy to follow story, you will really enjoy this show. This is the first anime i will go out of my way to ensure i can buy it as soon as its on dvd. Currently i am watching it on Hulu

About the Show

A teacher who has just transferred into Seishou Academy soon finds himself in the hospital. This is not surprising, considering his students
A teacher who has just transferred into Seishou Academy soon finds himself in the hospital. This is not surprising, considering his students are assault rifles! Kitsune Tennouji of EDEN'S BOwY fame returns after 16 years with a surprising military comedy featuring attractive girls who are actually anthropomorphized guns! The girls are given special characteristics and personalities to match their gun types, and they spend their school days with a firearm in one hand, running rampant and occasionally shooting a boost of energy into their school life! ...more